EPA v. ADVANSIX RESINS & CHEMICALS, LLC (HOPEWELL PLANT)

Case summary

On February 29, 2024, the Division Director of ECAD, EPA R3 issued an Administrative Order for Compliance on Consent ( Order ) under Section 309(a) of the Clean Water Act ( CWA or Act ), 33 U.S.C. 1319(a) to AdvanSix for their Hopewell Plant located at 905 East Randolph Road in Hopewell, VA. The violations include failing to minimize, reduce or eliminate benchmark pollutants to the extent achievable, and failure to contain unpermitted dry weather discharges through stormwater outfalls. These failures are ongoing violations of Respondent's individual Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ( VPDES ) permit (VA0005291) issued under 402 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C.1342 and Section 301 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. 1311. Under the AOC, Respondent will perform corrective action measures which include: 1) submission of a Source Identification and Dry Weather Discharge Elimination Plan to identify, characterize and eliminate any unknown sources of water contributing to unpermitted, dry weather stormwater discharges; 2) revisions to Respondent's SWPPP to implement additional control measures to address the Benchmark exceedances; and 3) a formal request to VDEQ, seeking permanent retirement of a portion of AdvanSix's Total Nitrogen waste load allocation by 216,000 lbs/yr. and amend the Watershed General Permit Registration List effective January 1, 2024. Simultaneously, Respondent will voluntarily limit the discharge of Total Nitrogen from the Facility to 874,798 lbs./yr, 216,000 lb/yr below the current wasteload allocation ( WLA ) of 1,090,798 until the process to permanently retire the WLA is complete. The Facility discharges to the James River, a navigable water as defined in Section 502(7) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1362(7). AdvanSix is in an area of potential EJ screening according to EPA's protocol.

Defendants (1)

• ADVANSIX RESINS & CHEMICALS, LLCNamed in settlement

Facilities (16)

• ADVANSIX RESINS AND CHEMICALS LLC

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• ADVANSIX RESINS AND CHEMICALS LLC

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• HOPEWELL PLANT

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• HOPEWELL PLANT

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• HOPEWELL PLANT

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• ADVANSIX RESINS AND CHEMICALS LLC

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• ADVANSIX RESINS AND CHEMICALS LLC

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• ADVANSIX RESINS AND CHEMICALS LLC

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• ADVANSIX RESINS AND CHEMICALS LLC

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• HOPEWELL PLANT

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• HOPEWELL PLANT

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• ADVANSIX RESINS AND CHEMICALS LLC

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• HOPEWELL PLANT

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• ADVANSIX RESINS AND CHEMICALS LLC

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• HOPEWELL PLANT

  905 E RANDOLPH RD, HOPEWELL, VA, 23860

  Registry ID: 110000620221

• …and 1 more

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ADVANSIX RESINS & CHEMICALS, LLC (HOPEWELL PLANT)entered 2024-02-29

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2024-02-29Final Order Issued
• 2024-03-21Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2026-07-27NPDES Closed
• 2026-07-27Enforcement Action Closed